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A Shocked Crowd in Buffalo

By Lew Serviss February 10, 2008 8:55 pmFebruary 10, 2008 8:55 pm

A gruesome accident sent Richard Zednik off the ice bleeding profusely at the Florida-at-Buffalo game Sunday. People sat in stunned silence at the sold-out HSBC Center. Zednik had been cut on the neck by the skate of Florida teammate Olli Jokinen.

In the most horrifying scene we’ve ever seen in HSBC Arena — and one too reminiscent of Clint Malarchuk’s injury at the Aud in 1989 — Zednik was cut in the neck by the skate of Olli Jokinen. Zednik skated off clutching the right side of his neck, leaving a trail of blood from the corner in the Buffalo end all the way to the Panthers’ bench as his teammates and fans pleaded for help, which came quickly from trainers from both sides.

The Associated Press described the play thusly: “Zednik was behind the play and skating into the right corner of the Sabres’ zone, when teammate Olli Jokinen was upended by Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell. Jokinen fell head-first to the ice, and his right leg flew up and struck Zednik directly on the side of the neck.”

The game was halted for about 15 minutes and Buffalo GM Darcy Regier could be seen in conference with NHL bigwig Colin Campbell apparently discussing whether to call the game with 9 minutes 56 seconds to go and Buffalo ahead, 4-3.

An announcement was finally made to the audience:

“Richard Zednik is in stable condition and on his way to a Buffalo hospital.” The crowd stood and cheered.

The game resumed and Derek Roy scored to make it 5-3, Buffalo.

Zednik had scored twice in the Panthers’ win Saturday, 6-3, over Boston. The 6-foot, 200-pound right wing from Slovakia is 32 and in his 13th season in the NHL. He has played for the Capitals, Canadiens, Islanders and Panthers. This season he has 15 goals and 26 points in 53 games.

Clint Malarchuk was the Sabres’ goalie in 1989. Playing the St. Louis Blues in Buffalo at the old Aud, Malarchuk got involved in some physical play around the goal and his jugular was severed by the skate of Steve Tuttle, who had been checked from behind by Uwe Krupp, a Sabres defenseman.

The Associated Press reported that Malarchuk, then 27, sustained a six-inch cut, but refused to be taken off the ice on a stretcher. ”The day I go off on a stretcher is the day they have to make funeral arrangements,” he said.

Malarchuk is now the goalie coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is also a rancher in Nevada.

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